seed saving tips

8/10/2019 Seed Saving Tips

1/37

1

AnnadanaSoil and Seed Savers Network

Seed Saving Tips

Annadana Soil and Seed Savers NetworkRegistered office:Ishana Gopathi farms, Singapura village, Post Vidyaranyapura,

Bangalore 560097, Karnataka, India.

Annadana Agro Ecological CenterVilpatty village, Kumburvayal (po), Ganeshpuram road, Kodaikanal 624104,Tamil Nadu, India.

Annadana Seed BankAuroville Botanical Gardens, Auroville, Villupuram (dt) 605 101

Tamil Nadu, India.Telephone - +91 413 2622667

E-mail:[email protected]

Website:www.annadana.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.annadana.com/http://www.annadana.com/http://www.annadana.com/http://www.annadana.com/mailto:[email protected]


2/37

2

Importance of seed savingWe are on the verge of losing, in only one generation, much of the agricultural

diversity which took mankind 10,000 years to create. As late as 1900s, food

for the planet's hungry was provided by as many as 1,500 different plants,each further represented by thousands of different cultivated varieties.

Currently over 90% of the world's nutrition is provided by 30 different plants

and only four (wheat, rice, corn and soybeans) provide 75% of the calories

now consumed by human beings. Where once diverse strains strengthened

each local ecosystem, currently, a handful of "green revolution", super-hybrid

varieties are "mono-cropping" farms and gardens world over.

The modern world is facing the prospect of feeding hungry billions with a

genetically uniform agriculture with little or no diversity to sustain it.

For approximately 10,000 years, individual gardeners and farmers created

and sustained our rich genetic heritage. Now gardeners and farmers need to

play an important role in saving this heritage, by learning to save their own

seeds

from varieties that perform best in their own mini-ecosystems. This will

ensure biodiversity in the same way that diversity was promoted and

protected instinctively throughout the history of agriculture and horticulture.

Why, save your own seed?

Until recently, every farmer saved their own seeds. And every farmer, home

gardener was therefore, a plant breeder

. They simply saved the seed of the

plants that did best for them, and which they liked most. Although simple,

this was efficient and effective.

But in the past 40 years, almost all these adaptable local strains have been lost,affecting our bio-diversity. Farming is just an industrial process. The rights of

farmers have vanished, long overshadowed by the promotion of private

companies and transnationals who sell hybrids, and genetically modified

organisms. These seeds require massive doses of fertilisers and chemicals as

they have no or little adaptability to different soils and climate. And worse

still, they cannot be saved as the private sector has made sure that these seeds

will not breed true to type for the next generation, insuring them a captive

market: The farmers have to buy back the seed every season, each year.


3/37

3

Which seeds can be saved?

Seeds should be saved to sow new crops during the next season, but not all

plants are suitable for seed saving.

Commercial F1 hybrid varieties cannot be used for seed saving because the F1

hybrid seeds are produced by crossing two distinct parent lines or two

distinct inbreed varieties. As the farmer does not have the parent lines, but

just the offspring, seeds saved from hybrids are either sterile or degenerative.

The plants of the next generation may show so wide a variation in characters,

uniformity and maturity, that they are often non functional to the farmers.

That aspect of F1 is bred consciously into the variety by the private breeders

like the trans nationals and profit driven private companies with the prospect

of incapacitating farmers by preventing them from saving their own seed.

Farmers are obliged to buy back seeds from these companies leaving them in

severe debts

.

A professional plant breeder, recently declared his commercial intent that

even as they can improve open pollinated varieties in the same way as with

hybrids and improve them for yield, diseases, drought resistance etc... they

stand to loose all commercial benefits. The farmer who buys avariety each

time, may not buy it back again, as farmers can then save their own seeds.

Hybridisation is essentially a commercial process to ensure the private

breeders ample profits.

Varieties suitable for seed saving include local varieties, heirloom varieties,

ancient varieties, traditional varieties; these farmers varieties have been

grown for generations and are Open Pollinated. OP are not from two

different inbreed parent lines, but from a population of a group of plants

displaying the same characteristics (a variety)

. The genetic characteristics is

present in any of the population offspring and seeds can then be saved from

season to season and generation to generation.

Seed saving involves selecting suitable plants to save seeds, harvesting seeds

at the right time and storing them properly. Most of all, it is essential to

understand some basics on how plants pollinate and cross. The seed saving

techniques of many common vegetables are introduced in this manual.


4/37

4

Seed Saving Tips

ANNADANAs objective, since 8 years has been to exercise change by Sowing

Seeds ofConsciousness. And we continue with this endeavour.

We are happy to introduce an informative booklet called Seed Saving Tips.

This provides user friendly information on how to isolate, conserve, select,

multiply and process vegetable seeds of traditional, heirloom, non-genetically

modified, non-hybrid, and open-pollinatedorganic heritage vegetables.

Seed-saving is an easy process. A dash of effort and care will germinate the

magic seeds of life. You can help maintain biodiversity from the very first

origin in the food chain which are the seeds. Thereby, help preserve and

conserve 10,000 years of evolution, work for today and the future generations.

Note: These seed savings tips are not fit for professional breeders as terms

and techniques are simplified

for the understanding of marginal farmers

and home- gardeners.

Simplified explanation of some technical terms

Our Seed Saving Tipsprovides a basic understanding and usage of certain

terms that will be encountered throughout our Seed saving journey.

Seeds are a plant reproductive structure,

containing a fertilized embryo in an arrested

state of development

Simply: Seeds are

, surrounded by a hard

outer covering.Seeds vary greatly in color, shape, size, and

texture (shown, right).

living, hibernating embryos

.

They have a life span and survive the longest if they are kept in a dry, cool

environment.


5/37

5

Pollination

Plants reproduce and develop seeds through a process called pollination

. It is

a process in which pollen grains are transferred from the male part (anther) to

the female part (stigma) hence, termed as pollination (as shown below).

Plants can be classified into 2 main reproductive categories.

They are: Self-pollination and Cross-pollination.

1.

Self-pollination is a transfer of pollen grains from the male part (stamen) to

the female part (pistil)

Self-pollination (selfers)

within the same

flower or on the same plant

1. These plants usually require small

minimum population sizes and

number of plants are needed to

ensure genetic diversity. Also these

plants require shorter isolation

distances between varieties

(distance needed between 2

varieties ensures there is no cross -

pollination).

( shown,

right).

2. Examples are beans, tomatoes,

capsicum, brinjal, lentil, rice, wheat amidst others. Pollination occurs


6/37

6

without the need for other flowers, insects, birds or wind, as it takes place

within the flower prior opening. Isolation distance to prevent cross -

pollination is not necessary unless

insects invade the flowers. For your

information to a certain extent most of the plants cross-pollinate.

2.

Cross-pollination is a transfer of pollen from the male part of one plant to the

female part of another plant (as shown below).

Cross-pollination (crossers)

This process is usually accomplished naturally by wind and insects. It takes

place when pollen is exchanged between different flowers in the same or on

different plants.

1.

When breeding cross-

pollinating plants, one

must be cautious to

prevent crossing varieties

2. Examples of cross-

pollinated plants are basil,

.

This can be accomplished

through various methods

of isolation.

corn, cucumber, squash, water melon, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, onion,

beets, radish, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

Methods of Cross-pollination:

(i). Wind pollination: Many species of flowers are wind pollinated. The

pollen is transported by the wind

. These species require the largest isolation

distance as pollen can travel for kilometres depending on the strength of the

wind and the presence or absence of natural barriers like trees or tall crops.

Varieties that are wind pollinated should be planted in dense blocks to ensure

total pollination.

Characteristic features of wind pollinated flowering plants include

They produce huge amounts of non sticky pollen

They have many flowers packed into ainflorescence

They have large long female parts ( pistil- stigma)

They have large, well exposed male parts( stamen- anther)
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/ecotree/flowers/pollination4.htm#windhttp://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/ecotree/flowers/pollination4.htm#wind


7/37

7

(ii). Insect pollination: These plants have flowers that encourage insects to

travel from flower to flower. A great many flowers are pollinated by insects

(as shown above).

Many types of insects have very different ways of pollinating flowers like

bees (the most common insect pollinator), butterflies, moths, beetles and

wasps.

Insect pollinated species require up to a kilometre of separation from2 varieties to ensure no crossing happens

between varieties. Many insect pollinated

flowers have bright colours and nectar

Flowers that are visited by nocturnal insects are attracted to less showy

flowers but are often strongly scented. Other flowers are brown in colour and

smell like carrion and attract flies, which pollinate them. Some flowers may

get robbed of their nectar by insects which do not pollinate them. Some plants

have therefore developed complex structures to prevent all but specific

insects species from reaching the nectar and getting pollen deposited on

them, and then they transfer to the female part of the next flower they visit.

- the

reward the insect receives for visiting the

flower. Pollen is deposited on the insect

from the male part (anther) when the insect

visits the flower to collect or drink the nectar, and then the pollen is deposited

on the female part (stigma) of the next flower that the insect visits.

Pollen bag


8/37

8

Plants that self pollinate are referred to as Selfers, whereas plants which cross

pollinate are referred to as out-crossing or Crossers. However, most plant

species are not strictlySelfers or Crossersbut a combination of the two.

Selfers Crossers

Few flowers Many flowers

Small flowers Large flowers

Mono-coloured Bright colours

Absence or little nectar Nectarpresent

Unscented flowers Scented flowers

Male and Female part close to

each other

Male and Female part far from each

other

Fewer pollen grains Numerous pollen grains

Perfect Flower - Female Flower - Male Flower - Unisexual flower

When both the essential organs of a flower (the male and the female part) are

present in one flower, it is said to bebisexual, hermaphrodite or perfect.

If a flower lacks any of the essential organs, namely stamen or pistil, it said to

beunisexual.

Plants species which produce flowers with the male part (stamen) and the

female part (pistil) in the

Perfect flower

same flower

are called perfect flowers(shown, left).

In

perfect flowers, self-pollination occurs. Brinjal, capsicum, tomato, lady finger

have the stigma so close to the anthers that the slightest wind movement can

cause the pollen to drop onto the stigma within the same flower. In peas and

beans, self-pollination occurs even before the flower opens.


9/37

9

Some types of perfect flowers still require cross-pollination. An external

pollinator such as an insect is necessary. Onion, carrot, cabbage, and radish,

for example, belong to this type.

Plants species which produce flowers which are

Unisexual flower

either male or female

are

called Unisexual flower. The male

flower is also called Staminate The

female flower is also called Pistilate.

They require wind or insects such as

bees to transmit pollen from the

anthers of the male flowers to the

stigma of the female flowers. Maize,

for example, is cross-pollinated by

wind, while cucurbits are cross -

pollinated by bees.

Stamen is the

Flower part- Essential organs

male reproductive organs in flowers that produce pollen in

which sperm or male cell

Pistils are the female reproductive organs in flowers that produce ovules

within which an egg-cell originates. They consist of stigma, style, ovary and

ovule (as shown in figure). The stigma is the opening in the pistil through

which the pollen passes its way to the ovary. The style contains the pollen

tube between the stigma and the ovary through which the pollen is carried.

originate. They consist of the filament, anther and

pollen. A filament is the tube that supports the anther where pollen is

produced. Pollenis the equivalent of sperm in plants. Pollen grains fertilize

plant ovules.


10/37

10

The ovarycontains ovules. When fertilized, ovules develop into mature seeds.

The ovulecontains an egg-cell.

How to keep Seeds and Varieties Pure?Keep in mind that natural cross-pollination can always happen

To prevent varieties from crossing, seed producers must use some means of

isolation (cages, distance isolation, time isolation, or hand pollination) during

periods, when pollination can occur. Genetic diversity within a variety is

maintained by including a

to some extent

under a field situation, even in self-pollinating plants. It often occurs when

pollen grains stick onto the bodies of insects visiting flowers, and then carry

the pollen grains to the next flower they visit.

minimum number

of selected parents into thebreeding population. This number will vary according to crop species.

Ways to protect and ensure varietal purity:

1. Properly identify and label

2. Plant on clean land, which has not been used to grow the same crop in

recent past

plants.

3. Isolate plants from cross-pollination

4. Maintain

.

varietal genetic diversity

5. Rogue, off-types.

by planting for the breeding populationat least 200 plants for cross-pollinated crops and 50-100 plants from self-

pollinated crops.

Isolation technique to prevent cross pollination

1. Isolation strips: A plot planted with a tall crop or a

nectar rich crop acts as a natural barrier or attractant. This

barrier plot separates

plots planted for seed production,preventing crossing and mechanical mixtures. This strip

theoretically catches windblown pollen and distracts

insects from visiting the seed plots on either side of it.

2. Isolation distance:Pure seeds can be produced by leaving enough distance

between two or more varieties to prevent cross-pollination by insect or wind-

blown pollen. Isolation distance can vary from 50m to 1000m or more

depending on the plant species and its pollination habit.


11/37


12/37

12

iii. Tunnelling

requiring to produce

: This method is best suited for big farmers, institutes, NGOs

large quantity of pure

seeds

Varietal purity for seed production is hence maintained.

. - Erect steel or PVC tunnelled frames

with mosquito nets so that it individually

covers the raised beds with plants prior

flowering. It isolates plants from visitor

insects that can cause cross pollination.

4. Time Isolation:You can plant different varieties of the same species in the

same year as long as the time of flowering does not overlap. Sow different

varieties at intervals of 45 to 60 days depending on the species. For annuals,

this could mean starting one variety early in the season and then starting

another several weeks later.

5. Hand-pollinating: Basically, it is the process of transferring pollen from the

anther of the male flower to the stigma of the female flower and then covering

or closing back the pollinated flower to prevent it from being pollinated by

other unwanted pollen.

1. Select unopened male flower (shown, left) or artificially tape the male

flower (shown, right).

2. Select unopened female flower - an ovary, small fruit like structure, the

flower below indicates a female flower (shown, left) or select an artificially

closed (taped) female flower (shown, right).


13/37

13

3. Cut the male flower and remove the sepals to expose the pollen (shown

center) bearing part (anther).

4. Gently open the female flower, and then brush it with the male flower.

Touch and rub the anthers from the male flower onto the pistil of the female

flower (shown, left and right)


14/37

14

5. After, the hand- pollination is complete; the sepal of the female flower

should be closed and sealed with tape (shown, left and right)

6. Tag the pollinated flower with a red ribbon to identify later for pure fruit.

Note: Use 3 male flowers for 1 female flower; Rub 3 male flowers into 1

female flower. This is to ensure genetic diversity and prevents genetic

depression.


15/37

15

SEED SAVING TECHNIQUES

1. AmaranthScientific name:Amaranthus spp

Family: Amaranthaceae

ProductionAmaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is an important

food crop especially for subsistence farmers

in India, Africa and Asia. It is a fast-growing

crop that easily grows on a wide range of

soils and climates. Seed crops are often

produced using transplants. Seedlings with

desirable leaf and stem characteristics are

transplanted about three weeks after

sowing.

Pollination

Amaranth is a self pollinating, allogamous

plant. It has perfect flower. Amaranthus

hence does

not need

wind or

insects for

pollination,

but accepts

intercrossing

with other

varieties of amaranths (allogamy)

Isolation The pollen is tiny and very light

and Amaranth is mainly cross pollinated

through wind and sometime by insects -

between 5 and 30% - the remaining of the

flowers is self pollinated. A minimum

isolation distance of 1000m between

varieties is recommended. This distance can

be vastly reduced if natural barriers as in

tall crops like maize, sorghum are planted.

Selection

Plants may be rouged as young plants,

remove types with undesirable or off-type

colour, size or leaf shape. Plants should berouged again just before flowering. Once

flowering begins, plants with off-type

flowers should be again quickly removed.

Harvesting

A lightening or yellowing of the foliage

colour is an indication that the plant and

seed arereaching

maturity.

Harvesting

the seed can

be processed

by shaking

the panicle

into a large paper or cloth bag. Alternatively

you can cut the whole plant and hang itupside down in a dry, aerated but shady

place. Later, beat the panicle in order to

release the seeds.

Processing

Seeds are easily

threshed by

hand or in a

bowl. Thethreshed seeds

are cleaned by

winnowing or

in a very fine

sieve.

Seed viability

The seeds of the amaranth plants have an

average viability of 10 years.


16/37

16

2. BeansScientific name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Family: Fabaceae

Production

For best results, bean should be grown

during a season where temperatures begin

warm but then gradually decrease. Under

these conditions, seeds will germinate well

in the warm soil and will set pods as

temperatures decrease. Dry weather is

preferred while pods mature.

Pollination

Phaseolus vulgaris are autogamous plant

and produceperfect flower

(shown, right).

Automatic

pollination

occurs before

the flower

opens because the male part is pushed upon

the female part of the flower. Cross

pollination by insects is possible

but rare.

Isolation

It is essential to select a few sturdy plants

for the production of seeds. Although, for

producing pure seed, ideally different

varieties should be separated by a few

meters or by scented plants in order to

distract pollen gathering insects. Another

isolation technique is to cover the entireplant or a few individual flowers with a

mosquito nets

to avoid cross pollination by

insects. Finally, time isolation can be

practiced by planting different varieties at

45 days interval to avoid flowering at the

same time. For a home gardener, precaution

is not necessary as Phaseolus vulgaris is an

autogamous plant (and mainly does not

cross).

Selection

Harvest seeds that grow on healthy,

vigorous plants as

shown in the figure.

Avoid harvesting

seeds from off-type

plants as well asplants affected by

diseases. Mark the

plant select with a

ribbon, so that you

can recognise the selected plants at the end

of the season.

Harvesting

Pods are harvested when they have turnedyellow (as shown in

the figure). You can

wait until the seeds

start to rattle in the

pods. The inner seeds

will be firm, well

developed, and begin

to loosen inside the

pods. Do not wait toolong as the dry pods will burst open.

Processing

Dry the pods in the sun and then place in a

shelter for 1 2 weeks for curing. Pods are

threshed by

hand (shown,

right). Seeds

are further

cleaned and

dried after

threshing. In

order to ensure that the seeds are fully dry,

you can bite on a seed and if it barely leaves

a mark then it is dry.

Seed viability

The seeds of the beans plant have an



17/37

17

3. Brinjal

Scientific name: Solanum melongena

Family: Solanaceae

Production

Brinjal is otherwise called as Eggplant. It is a

warm season crop. It requires a long and warmgrowing season for successful seed production.

It is more susceptible to lower temperatures

than tomato and capsicum. A day temperature

of 25 32 C and a night temperature of 21 27

C is ideal for seed production.

Pollination

Brinjal produce perfect flowers (as shown in the

figure). Eggplant

is thus a self pollinating plant

but which may be

cross-pollinated

by insects.

The

extent of natural

crossing depends upon the insect activity.

Isolation

To obtain seeds of pure varieties, it is well

advised to grow different varieties in isolation

(under an insect screen), (as shown below) or to

grow one variety at a time. To avoid cross-

pollination, isolate each variety by 500 to 1000 m

or with another tall, flowering crop. Another

way is to isolate a few flowers from each variety

to exclude insects. Tie a mosquito net bubble

around the flowers before they open (in a way

that no insect can force its way) and remove as

soon as the fruits are set. Mark the pure fruits

with a red ribbon. If you want to produce large

amount of seeds, then grow a few plants of each

variety in a separate tunnel steel or PVC framed

covered by mosquito net

. If there is only one

variety of eggplant being grown, isolation is not

needed.

Selection

Select the most vigorous and healthy plants,

mark and select fruits on the second branch, and

leave them until they are fully mature. Keep one

or two fruits from one plant and several fruitsfrom different plants of the same variety to

maintain crop genetic diversity.

Harvesting

Brinjal seeds are only

viable, when

harvested from fully

ripe fruits: the skin of

the fruit turns

brownish-yellow

asshown in the figure.

Processing

Brinjal seeds can be extracted either by a dry

method or by a wet method. The dry method

consists to knock the ripe fruits in order to

dislodge the seeds from their place in the fruit.

The fruit is then opened up and the seeds picked

out. Another dry method is to leave the fruits to

dry in the sun and then to remove the seeds.

The wet method

consists in cutting the fruit into

small cubes or slices (as shown below) and

dislodges them with a little water. Then, place

them in a fine sieve to be

washed prior putting

them on a screen to dry

under room temperature

(as shown, right). Use a

fan to aid the drying if

conditions are humid. It

can take up to 7- 10 days to achieve perfectly

dry seeds.

Seed viabilityThe seeds of the brinjal plant have an average

viability of 6 years.


18/37

18

4. Capsicum & ChiliesScientific name: Capsicum annum, Capsicum

chinense & C. frutescens

Family: Solanaceae

Production

It grows best in a cool dry season with

temperatures in the range of 21 33 C. For

seed production night temperature is

especially critical; generally, plants will not

set fruits if night temperatures go above

30C. Ideally, select a season when night

temperature remains below 30C at

flowering stage. Avoid fields, where the

previous crop was a solanaceae (tomato,

capsicum, eggplant, potato). This preventsthe build-up of diseases and insects in

particular thefusarium wilt.

Pollination

Peppers produce perfect, mostly self-

pollinating flowers

(shown, right).

Thus insects or

wind are notrequired for

pollination. Pepper

is allogamous and

canbe cross-pollinated by insects.

Isolation

The use of steel or PVC framed tunnels with

mosquito

nets can beemployed

to avoid

any cross

pollination

by insects

between varieties to obtain pure seeds and

pure variety (as shown above).

If we grow different varieties, which arerecommended for marketing purpose, the

farmers have the choice of applying

different strategies depending of his scale:

- Grow few plants of each variety in

isolation under a mosquito net, this is cost

effective.

- Or isolate

fewindividual

flowers from

each variety

under a

mosquito net

bubble as

shown in the figure.

Or practice time isolation, by sowing 2

different varieties at 60 days interval.- Or try distance isolation by cultivating

different varieties while maintaining 500 to

1000 m distance between the varieties.

Selection

The earliest maturing and more attractive

plants (yield, stand,

resistance, deep roots)

should be marked andinspected during

growth. Select healthy,

attractive fruits for

seed saving (shown,

right). Seeds from off-type plants or fruits

should not be saved.

Harvesting

Green capsicum is immature and unfit for

seed processing.

It will reach

maturity while

turning green to

red colour

(shown, right).

Some capsicums

however are colored yellow, orange or

nearly black when they are fully mature.


19/37

19

Processing

Pepper seeds should be extracted from fresh

mature fruits,

fit for

consumption

Seeds areremoved by

hand (shown,

second right)

placed in a fine sieve

and shade dried for 6

- 8 days under room

temperature (shown,

below). Once they

have driedcompletely, store them. They should emit a

small sharp

sound when

mixed. When

harvesting the

hot or very hot

varieties it is

best advised to

wear thickrubber gloves or coconut oil on both hands

to protect against burning sensation

provoked by capsaicin (the burning

substance in the chilly). It is important to

carry out all operations in open air because

the capsaicin will cause considerable

irritation to the eyes, nose and mouth. Later,

wash your hands and any utensils used for

this under running water.

(shown, right)

Seed viability

The seeds of the Capsicum and chilly plant

have an average viability of 4 years.

Capsicum seeds have a normal germination

rate of about 60-70%. Capsicum seeds are

preserved best in a cool temperature below

18-20 C (or in the refrigerator).

Capsicum maturity / harvest index

The seeds of capsicums and chillies are

removed when the fruit is totally mature

and has reached a full color according to the

variety. The mature color of capsicums and

chillies may be yellow, red, purple, white,

orange, black or chocolate.


20/37

20

5. Corn

Scientific name: Zea mays

Family: Poaceae / Graminae

Production

Corn grows almost through-out the year,

the optimum temperature required for corn

growth is from 10 30 C.Sow the corn in 3

rows minimum instead of sowing in 1 row

to optimise pollination. Spacing to be taken

at 20 30cm between plants and between

rows.

Pollination

Corn produces separate male and female

flowers on the sameplant. Male flowers

appear as tassels on the

top of corn stalks and

produce the pollen

(shown, right). Female

flowers are pollinated

via the silk emerging

from each ear (shown,

left). Female cornflowers are pollinated

predominately by the

wind which carries the

pollen from the male

flower. Some insects and

bees can be attracted by

the pollen of maize. The pollen is light and

can travel great distances.

Isolation

Corn is fertilized by the wind and so, to

maintain varietal purity the farmers has few

options:

- Distance isolation, by cultivating different

varieties while maintaining 1000 m or 1 km

distance and other tall plants acting as

pollen barriers, between 2 varieties.

- Time isolation

, by sowing 2 different

varieties at 50- 60 days interval. It is

essential to ensure that the male flowers of

the first variety have finished shedding

pollen before the silk of the female flowers

of the second variety start to emerge.

Selection

The selected plants for seed saving should

be short, mature, healthy and produce fewears. Grow at least 200 plants and save seeds

from the best 100.

Harvesting

The cobs can be left

to dry on the plant. If

bad weather, insect

or bird attacks

prevail, cobs can be

harvested and driedin a well- ventilated

place.

Processing

The cobs are never stripped of seed until

they are perfectly dry. Once they have dried

completely, seeds

may be removed

by hand, shadedried under room

temperature

(shown, right) and

then stored. The

seeds of sweet corn

can be recognized for

the seeds contract

during the drying

process. A sweet corn

cob will therefore

present gaps between

all the seeds while

non- sweet corn varieties will have no gaps

between the seeds.

Seed viability

The seeds of the corn plant have an average

viability of 5 years.


21/37

21

6. CucumberScientific name: Cucumis sativus

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Production

The Cucurbitaceae family includes cucumbers,

melons, squashes, pumpkins, and gourds. Theyall are warm season crops. Many cucurbits are

susceptible to foliar diseases that attack plants

during periods of high humidity and rainfall.

Therefore, regions having hot temperatures and

low humidity are ideal conditions for cucurbit

seed production.

Pollination

Cucumber is a monoecious plant with separate

male and female flowers on the same plant.Cucumber is cross-pollinated by insects which

visit the flowers looking for nectar and carry the

pollen away. Cross-pollination is predominant

.

Female flowers can be

identified by locating

the ovary - a small

looking cucumber (as

shown, right) at the base

of the flower. The male

flowers can be recognised

because they are found

above the foliage on long

- main stem (as shown,

left). The flowers are

insect-pollinated, and so, easily cross-pollinate

between varieties.

Isolation

To ensure varietal purity:

- Hand pollination technique is possible but

not recommended as the cucumber flower is

very small and difficult to handle for a

beginner in seed saving.

- Separate cucumber varieties by at least a

distance of 1000 meters as insects are the

vectors of pollen and cross pollinate- Or grow one variety at a time

- Or use time isolation by sowing 2 different

varieties at 50 days interval.

Selection

Select early flowering, healthy and vigorous

plants. Remove any deformed fruits.

Harvesting

It is essential to leave the fruits to mature fully

on the plants

before

harvesting for

extracting the

seed. These

fruits are no

longer edible.

They will swellup and then soften, turning into brownish color

(as shown above).

Processing

Cut the fruit lengthwise and extract the seeds

from the central

cavity with a

spoon (as

shown, right).

Allow the seeds

to ferment in

their juice and

add little water,

leave for 3

days, then

wash them

and dry on (as

shown left) a

screen for 6 to

10 days prior

storage.

Seed viability

The seeds of the cucumber plant have an



22/37

22

7. Ladies FingerScientific name:Abelmoschus esculentus

Family: Malvaceae

Production

Ladies finger is commonly called as Bhendi

or Okra. It can be grown on a wide range of

soils which have good drainage.

Temperatures between 27 30C promote

rapid and healthy seedling development

and seed production too. Seeds will not

germinate below soil temperatures of 17C.

Pollination

Bhendi produces one flower every 2 to 3

days. The flower isperfect,

hermaphrodite, self

compatible and

self- pollination takes

place. Although the

yellow petal (as

shown, right) attracts

a lot of insects and cross pollination is

frequent up to 69 % (allogamy).

Isolation

If you wish to grow different varieties, the

farmers have the choice of applying

different strategies depending on the scale:

- To grow each variety, select a few plants

in isolation under a mosquito net.

- Or isolate, the

evening before they

open, a few

individual flowers

from each variety

under a mosquito net

bubble Do not

forget to mark the

flowers that have been self- fertilized under

isolation.

- Or practice time isolation, by sowing 2

different varieties at 50 days interval

- Or distance isolation by cultivating

different varieties while maintaining 500 to

1000 m distance between the varieties.

Selection

Plants for seed production can be selected

prior flowering,

taking into

consideration the

vigour and habit of

the plants (as shown,

right). Once fruiting

begins, you can verify

that the pods conform

the characters. Plants

with off-type pods

should be removed. Plants with viral

symptoms should be removed immediately.

Harvesting

The okra pods mature in a sequence from

the base of the plant

toward the top (as

shown, right). Once

the fruit is ripe, it

opens up fivelongitudinal fissures

which reveal five rows

of seeds. The pods

have tendency to split

along the suture when fully dried. Exposed

seeds may be damaged by rain or may drop

to the ground; therefore, the pods must be

harvested as soon as they have become fully

mature (brown colour)prior scattering.

Processing

Pods are easily hand

threshed and

separated (shown,

right)

Seed viability

The seeds of the bhendi plant have an



23/37

23

8. LettucesScientific name: Lactuca sativa

Family: Asteraceae

Production

Lettuce is commonly called as salad. It can

be grown easily as a vegetable crop in a cool

or in moderate temperature. As a seed crop,

it is a cool climate plant, especially for

headed varieties. Leaf lettuce can accept

more warm temperatures (26C or higher) to

bolt and set seeds.

Pollination

Lettuce produces

perfect, self-pollinating flowers

(as shown, right).

Lettuce is

considered as

autogamous and

does not cross - pollinate easily

.

Isolation

Nevertheless lettuce flowers have a verysmall amount of natural cross-pollination

which can occur from 1 to 6% maximum,

when two varieties are grown side by side.

It is advisable to keep different varieties

separate by a few meters (5 meters) or grow

a tall crop such as maize between different

varieties; to reduce out -crossing.

Farmers can grow many varieties at a time

provided that the varieties are separated bya few meters by a tall crop. Lettuce rarely

cross- pollinates.

Selection

The selection and removal of plants not

conformed to type is based upon

observation at 3 stages of growth:

- at the first stage, between 4 to 6 leaves.

- at the second stage, at the formation ofhead of heart

- at the third stage, at the emergence of the

seed bearing stem from the plant.

Mark the selected plants with a red or

yellow ribbon or tag and remove off type.

Early bolting plants are not usually kept for

seeds as they produce poor quality seeds.

Harvesting

When two-thirds of the flowers of the stalk

are turning fluffy

white (shown,

right), about 23

weeks after

flowering, the

seeds can be

harvested from

standing single plants. Shake their heads

into a canvas bag. This can be done every 2

3 days.

- or you can plug the whole plant and

transfer into a canvas bag (as shown below)

and hang it upside

down in a protected,

dry and ventilated

place for several days.

The seed will

continue to ripen and

scatter. The plants can

then be shaken into a

hard receptacle (50 litres domestic dustbin),

allowing the seeds to detach.

Processing

Winnowing is then necessary to separate the

seed from large amount of fine debris. Use asieve or a fan to blow the chaffs.

Seed viability

Lettuce seed loses its

viability quicker than

most vegetable crops.

Under ideal cool and

dry conditions, seeds

may maintain their

viability for up to 5 years.


24/37

24

9. SquashScientific name: Cucurbita spp

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Production

Squashes are divided in 3 main species:

Cucurbita maxima. This species has both

bush and runner type. They are

characterized by large leaves which have

rounded leaf lobes, no white stripes and a

long stem. The leaves are covered with

numerous hairs, and

not prickly. The

peduncle of the fruit is

always rounded and

devoid of ribs andangles (as shown above). The seeds are

marked with a groove at the edge. They are

oval and often curved.

Cucurbita moschata. The varieties of this

species are all runner type. The leaves

present fairly marked

angles and is criss

crossed by white

stripes. The leaves are

covered with

numerous hairs, and do not get prickly. The

peduncle presents 5 angle or ribs

(as shown

above).

Cucurbita pepo. The varieties of this species

present both runner and bush types. The

leaves and stems are

prickly. The leavescharacterized by

angular lobes and

white stripes

. The

peduncle of the fruit has very pronounced 5

8 divisions ribs- angles (as shown in the

figure).

Pollination

Squash and pumpkin are monoecious plantwith separate male and female flowers on

the same plant. They are cross-pollinated by

insects who visit the flowers looking for

nectar and carry the pollen away. Cross-

pollination is predominant. Female flowers

can be easily recognized

by locating the small

ovary which looks like a

small future fruit at thebase of the flower (as

shown above), and

already has a well

defined shape

The male flowers are easily recognized

because they are found

above the foliage on

long / main stem (as

shown, left). Theflowers are insect-

pollinated, and they

easil

.

y cross within

varieties

. However,

seed savers can grow more than one variety

at a time in a single location by using hand

pollinating techniques.

Isolation

Squashes and Pumpkin from differentspecies (as mentioned above) can be grown

next to each other without crossing. There is

no inter-species crossing but crossing

happen only between varieties of the same

species (ex: in between 2 butter gourd or in

between 2 pumpkins). A gardener can grow

one variety of squash, one variety of

pumpkin, one of zucchini one of cucumber

and one of water melon without riskingcross pollination.

- To ensure the varietal purity of different

varieties of the same species (2 butter

gourds, 2 pumpkins), separate different

varieties by at least a distance of 1000 meters

as bees are the main pollinators

- However experienced, home, seed savers

grow more than one variety in a singlegarden by using hand

pollinating techniques.

and travel

long distances.


25/37

25

Hand pollination techniques

Most cucurbit plants produce separate male

and female flowers on the same plant.

Female flowers can be identified by locating

the ovary (a small looking cucumber) at the

base of the flower.

Hand pollination

In the evening tie the end of the flower by

using adhesive tape. The next morning the

male flowers are

gathered, the

tape removed

and the petalsremoved.

:It consists of tying up themale and female flowers that are ready to

open the following day (tie 3 male flowers

for one female flower).

Pollination is

executed by

brushing the pollen of the male flower upon

the stigmata of the female flower. You can

observe that a

layer of pollen

has been

transferred to thefemale flower.

Finally the

female flower

should be delicately re- sealed with tape to

exclude insect transporting other pollen.

Mark or tag, the pollinated female flower

with a red ribbon for

identification purpose,

which is the pure fruit

(as shown, left). This

technique will produce

pure seeds of different

varieties grown at the

same time. A gardener

can also save pure seeds, by growing one

variety per season. Squash and pumpkin

flowers have a large size and are relatively

easy to hand pollinate.

Selection

Select early flowering, healthy and vigorous

plants. Remove any deformed fruits. Select

for fruit conservation and taste.

Harvesting

Pumpkin must be fullymature (until the vine

starts to dry) prior

harvesting for seed

production and

extraction.

Processing

After harvest, it is recommended to wait 2 to

4 weeks before cutting open the fruits andharvesting the seed. The seeds, in fact

continue to mature inside the fruit; quality

and viability of the seeds are much

improved.

When the fruits

are opened, the

seeds are

extracted by

hand (as shownin the figures)

and washed thus

removing the

pulp. They are

then placed in

shade on a tray

in a dry, well

ventilated place

for 7-10 days. Ifnecessary use a

fan to hasten the

process. If the

seeds split upon

bending, it

means they are dried well.

Seed viability

The seeds of pumpkin plant have anaverage viability of 6 years.


26/37

26

10. TomatoScientific name: Lycopersicon lycopersicum,

Lycopersicon esculentum

Family: Solanaceae

Production

Tomato grows best in the dry season under

day temperatures of 21 30C and night

temperatures of 15 23 C. Vines struggle to

set fruit if temperatures exceed 35C, and is

not a favourable condition for seed

production. Humidity levels higher than

60% at the time of fruit maturity will

increase disease problems and reduce seed

yields. Seed production during the rainy

season leads to poor seed quality. Trainingand stalking of tomato plants will result in

fewer diseases, higher yields and better seed

quality.

Pollination

Tomatoes produce perfect flower, thus self-

pollinating.

Anthers (male

part) are fusedtogether into a

little cone that

rarely opens

until pollen has

been shed and the stigma (female part)

pollinated.

Isolation

If, we grow different varieties, forcommercial purpose, to produce pure seeds,

the farmers have the choice of applying

different strategies depending on their scale:

- Isolate and bag a whole flower cluster,

from each variety under a mosquito net

bubble.

Or practice time isolation, by sowing 2different varieties at 60 days interval

- Grow each variety, keep few plants in

isolation under a mosquito net cage, or in a

isolation house. Tunnels are not effective for

tomatoes as the plants grow much taller

than the tunnel height.

- Or try distance isolation by cultivating

different varieties while maintaining 500mto 1000m distance between the varieties.

This distance can be reduced if a tall crop or

insect attracting plants are grown in

between. 200 meters should be kept as a

minimum distance.

Selection

Look for early maturing and attractive

plants, stand of the plant, indeterminate ordeterminate type, profuse rooting, resistance

to wilt, tolerance for humidity, for fruit

characteristics like no- splitting, sweetness,

size, colour Selected plants should be

marked and inspected during the growing

season for resistance to diseases.

Harvesting

Allow tomatoes to completely ripen on the

plant before

harvesting them for

seed production

(shown, right). Seeds

from not fully ripe

fruits will be made

viable if extracted after allowing the fruits to

fully ripen

, but this is not advisable. Totally

unripe or green tomatoes do not produce

viable seeds.


27/37

27

Processing

Cut each tomato into half (as shown, below).

Gently squeeze out

or scoop out the

jelly-like substance

that contains the

seeds (as shown,

left). Place the jelly

and seeds into a

small container or

bottle for

fermentation (as

shown, right). Add

a little water as this

aids the process offermentation. Leave

this mixture for 2 to 4 days until a moldy

layer forms on the top

of the container (as

shown, left). The

period of

fermentation varies

depending on the

ambient temperature. Do not leave the seedsfermenting for too long, because once free of

their protective coat, they will gleefully start

to germinate.

Then clean the seeds by placing them in a

fine sieve and pass

them under running

water (as shown,

right). The debris

and the immatureseeds will be

washed away leaving

only the good seed.

Then place them on a

drying tray, in a well

ventilated place to

complete the drying

process which takes 6 to

8 days (as shown above).

Do not dry them on a paper, as they will

stick to each other, nor in an oven or under

direct sunlight.

Seed viability

The seeds of the tomato plant have an

average viability of 4-8 years, depending onthe storing conditions.


28/37


29/37

29

Other Tips to bear in mind

Labels and Records: It is very important to label properly all stages of the

seed production in order to identify, separate, isolate different varieties and to

follow the seed production process, from sowing, to transplanting,

pollination, harvesting, extraction, drying and storage.

It is important to display on the label, the name of the species and varieties,

the originof the seed, the date of sowing and later on the date of harvesting.

Cleaning and Sorting

Seeds may contain many types of particles (the desired seed, weed seed,

plant material, etc.). In addition to the many different types of particles, the

desired seed may have broken; also unviable seeds may have mixed into the

lot. By removing these undesirable seeds and particles, you can improve the

germination percentage of your seeds.

1. Size(large vs. small, length, width, and thickness). The most popular way

to separate particles of different sizes is by

Different parameters

scalping (using a screen which

allows the desired seed to fall through the screen holes while blocking the

larger particles) or sifting

( using a screen in which only the particles smaller

than the seed are allowed to pass). Both of these separations can be made

manually by using separating boxes.

2. Weight(heavy vs. light and differences in specific gravity and surface area).

This separation is best done with a box fan or an air column. This works by

dropping the seeds through a passing draft of air, allowing the light, often

unviable seed to be blown out of the seed lot

. This method also removes any

light chaff that remains within the healthy seed lot.

3. ColourThis separation is most often done by hand-picking.

Seed Extraction Method depending on the species characteristics

Dry Extraction

Dry extraction consists of letting the vegetable fruits to dry on the plant or in a

protected area until the seed has reached maturity. Then the seeds are

removed from the fruits by threshing, rubbing, scraping manually or


30/37

30

mechanically. Later on, winnowing, screening, drying and storing happens.

Species suitable for dry extraction are: Amaranth, Beans, Corn, Bottle Gourd,

Capsicum, Lettuce, Radishes, Carrots and Cabbage.

Wet extraction

Wet extraction consists of using some or little water to facilitate the process of

extraction. Water can be used for dislodging seeds from their cavity and

cleaning fruit pulp residues or fermenting the seeds. After wet extraction

extra care should be taken for the drying process. Species suitable for wet

extraction are: Tomatoes, Pumpkin, Cucumber, Water melon, Brinjal, and

bitter gourd to name a few.

Drying

Drying is a process where removal of water moisture or moisture from the

seed evaporates, to end in a solid state.

Natural air drying takes place when materials are dried using unheated

forced air, instead taking advantage of the natural drying potential of the

surrounding air. The process is slow and weather-

dependent. So

a wise strategy

"fan off - fan

on" must be

devised

considering the

following

conditions: Air temperature, relative

humidity and moisture content of the materials being dried. Seeds are

increasingly dried with this technique, and the total time (including fan off

and on periods) may last from one week to several weeks.

Drying is carried out as a requisite for safe storage, in order to slow down

microbial growth. Seeds should be dried soon after harvest to avoid fungal

and viral growth. Drying time is variable depending on the seed and the

conditions in which the seed is being dried. One test for quality- If you can

push your nail into the seed, it is probably not dry enough, to be stored.


31/37

31

A simple, inexpensive but efficient drier can be made out of a wooden planks

and rippers together with thin steel mesh of different sizes.

A typical Drying Tray at Annadana

A seed drying tray has an outer

dimension of 40 by 30 cm and

inner dimension of 38 cm by

27.5 cm (as shown, right).

Thickness and depth of the tray

The thickness of the tray

is about 1.5 cm and depth

of the tray about 3.5 cm

(as shown, right).

Safety bowl

When seeds are dried, great care must be taken against ants.

Make arrangements to protect the seed drier from ants. The safety bowl

is

made up porcelain or steel. The interior is designed to create a small island

where the leg of the drying rests, and surrounded by water (as shown above,

centre). This effectively prevents the ants from entering into the seed drier.

Humidity

Seeds absorb moisture from the storage environment. High humidity levels

cause seeds to increase their respiration and use up their stored energy. Make

sure the seeds are dry enough (seed moisture content about 8 to 15 %) prior

storage. Then store them in an air-tight container, such as a screw-top jar.


32/37

32

Darkness

Exposure to sunlight will shorten the life of seeds. Use dark-coloured jars or

non transparent containers to protect seeds from sunlight. If clear jars are

used then place them in paper bags to shield out sunlight.

Temperature

For most vegetable seeds, a temperature below 18 - 20 C is ideal. You can

store the seeds in an air-tight container and place the container in the

refrigerator. For short-term storage, keep the seeds in a cool and shade dry

place. Most vegetable seeds can be safely stored for at least three to five years.

Place seeds in cloth or mesh bags, plastic containers, or foil envelopes. The

best containers are air-tight, such as a sealed glass jars, metal cans, or foilenvelopes. Label each container carefully. Note the names of the line or

variety, the year, and any such information you consider valuable.

Seed storage

Optimal storage for seeds needs to be airtight, maintain low humidity, and

low temperature. Containers should ideally be moisture proof and sealable.

However, low temperatures in storage are also highly recommended to avoid

degradative reactions and, especially, the growth of insects and mites. A goodmaximum storage temperature is about 18C.

At Annadana Seed Bank in Auroville, for quality

and security purpose, we adopt storage of our

seeds in a solar powered refrigerator.

At Annadana ecological centre in Kodaikanal,

where the temperatures are cool most of the

year, we plan to store our seeds in dark-

coloured glass jars sealed with a screw type

cork.


33/37

33

There exists many traditional ways of storing seeds, we have listed a few

below. Ref: Solomon Kiruba, Sathiadas Sam Manohar Das & Smaragdi

Papadopoulou

Research Department of Zoology, Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu,

India.

Laboratory of Entomology, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki,

Greece.

Storage of seeds or food grains by the indigenous groups of the tropics and

subtropics are mainly traditional. The traditional methods have been used for

many years with little or no modification and are successful because of the

application of scientific principles. The selection of a traditional storage

system is often related to climate, but local natural resources and customs alsoinfluence the choice of the traditional and modern seed storage methods.

Thombai (Bamboo bin)

It is a storage structure made from Bambusa arundinacea (as shown, right)

(Retzius) Bamboo splits, are closely intertwined in

such a way that a bamboo skeletal structure is formed

with a narrow opening at the top. This structure is

placed over a foundation of boulders and covered onall sides by clay and allowed to dry. The interior of the

structure is lime washed while the exterior is fortified

with cow dung. When the structure is fully dried, the

grains to be stored are put in the interior. Any

additional material to be stored is saved in separate gunny bags or pots. An

average thombai of 3m height and 1m radius can store upto 500kg seeds or

grains. A large thombaican hold about 30 tonnes of grains. A small pothole

alone is left at the top and this is closed by a large roof of Cymbopogan sp.Hackel (Ginger grass) which prevents rainwater from damaging the structure.

The top of the thombai is in the form of spire and the roof is conical in

structure similar to a pyramid.

Mankattai (Mud house)

This is a variant of thombai, and it is normally

kept indoors. Here, there is no bamboo skeleton

and the walls are made of mud bricks andplastered over with a primary layer of mud (as


34/37

34

shown, right). There is no spire, and the top is covered with wooden planks

after storing the grains inside. The whole structure along with the mud or

wooden planks is plastered over with clay and cow dung, allowed to dry and

then it is lime-washed. The size of the mankattaiis determined by the farmer

based on his need. Mostly it is used to store seeds in proportion to the

quantities produced. An average mankattai of 1.5m height and 1.5m width

and 2m length that can store up to 500 kg seeds or grains.

Kulukkai (Earthen Pot)

This is another popular storage structure for storing lesser quantities of grains

(below 200 Kg). The structure has a unique shape with

a smaller base and a broader top with a constricted

mouth for pouring in grains (as shown in the figure).

The base of the structure is trenched in the soil,

normally inside a protected house and there is a basal

vent for removing the stored grains which is closed by

coconut shell (Cocos nusifera L.). When grains are

stored for longer periods, the door or vent is sealed

with clay. The mouth at the top is covered by an

earthen plate that exactly fits into the opening and the

lip is sealed with mud. This earthen structure provides a storage time of about

two years and it has proved to be very successful in storage of grains. It is a

common practice to top up the Kulukkaiwith dried leaves of Pongamia pinnata

(L.) Pierre andAzadirachta indica A. Jussieu.

Addukku-paanai (Earthen pot-pile)

A variant of the earthen pot is the earthen pot-pile. Usually

three pots are stacked over another, the smallest being at the

top, covered by an earthen lid fastened by thick cloth (as

shown, right). The pots fit exactly over one another in such a

way that, there are no gaps. The lips are sealed with clay and

cow dung to further ensure perfect alignment.

Addukkupaanai (Earthen pot-pile), capacity: bottom pot 30

Kg; middle pot 20 Kg; top pot 15 Kg.


35/37

35

Thallpai (Straw Case)

This is an unusual storage structure made up of paddy straw for storing seed

grains. This storage maintains the seed grains viable for about two years.

Paddy straw is specially prepared for making this

structure. The straw is kept straight and dried

properly. The dried straw is twisted to form ropes

and the ropes are concentrically arranged over a

large area (as shown, right). Loose straw is placed

over this concentric arrangement and peelings from

the bark of Erythrina indica L. and Erythrina variegata

L. are placed along with loose straw. The bark

peelings form the base and wall of this straw case.

The grain to be stored in the straw case is first mixed with sifted fly ash and

placed over the straw structure. When sufficient quantities have been placed,

the straw ropes are folded over the grains and a rounded structure is

obtained. This structure is usually suspended from the roof shafts.

Running a germination test after having completed your seed

season

Germination rate is a way to measure how many of the seeds you have storedor that you want to share are still viable. It is usually expressed as a

percentage. Germination testing is important to both the seed producer and

the user.

Take a plastic tray with a hole at the bottom (as shown, left). The tray should

be filled with soil, then count the number of seeds you wish to test on the tray

(use a separate tray

for each variety).

Use a minimum of

25 seeds, up to 100.

The higher number

of seeds will give

you a more accurate result. Use a minimum of 25 seeds if your supplies are

low. Cover the seeds by little amount of soil (as shown above) and water

slightly.


36/37

36

If moisture and warmth remain constant, most species of vegetable seeds will

start to germinate within 3-6 days (as shown below). Check the seeds daily;

remoisten if the tray is drying. A small rose can

works well to supply the needed moisture while

avoiding over watering that results in rot. After

15 days count the number of seeds that have

germinated in the tray, be careful while counting.

Avoid counting weed seeds germinating in the

tray. Always try to germinate a random sample of the seeds you wish to

plant. For long term storage, initial germination should be at least 75% for

vegetables. Wild or traditional species often have a lower germination rate.

Seed germination can be capricious, read our seed sowing, germination guide.If, you are a self-reliant gardener, and into the habit of saving your own seed,

your seed supply will never get low. And once you start experimenting with

all our open-pollinated varieties, you will find that saving seeds from these

age old jewels is a lot of fun. Our eight years experience guides you about

cross-pollination, seed saving, and having to eat up a delicious watermelon,

just to get the seeds.

Technical Annexe

Some similar terms (simplified):

1. Male reproductive organ / Stamen / Pollen / Anther

2. Female reproductive organ / Pistil / Stigma / Ovule

3. Self pollination / Selfers

4. Cross pollination / Out-crossers / Crossers

5. Bisexual / Hermaphrodite / Perfect flower

6.

Unisexual / Imperfect flower/ Male and Female flower separate7. Pure seeds / Breed True to type/ Pure variety

8. Autogamous / plant which will not cross/ Autogamy

9. Allogamous/ plant which will cross/ Allogamy


37/37

Flower

A flower is the

reproductive

structure of the

plants. Flower is an

adaptation for

pollination and the

process of

pollination is

necessary to bring

the gametes

(reproductive cells) together to produce an offspring.

Essentials organs or the flower consist of the

male and female part, stamenand pistil.

Fertilization is

the union of the

(male) sperm

nucleus from the

pollen grain and

the (female) eggnucleus found in

the ovary.

If fertilization is

successful, the

ovule will

develop into a

seed (as shown in

seed saving tips

Documents